Kyoto Station Building

京都駅ビルの歴史は、まるで京都という古都そのものが持つ時間の流れを凝縮したかのようなドラマに満ちています。この場所は、かつての日本の文化の中心でありながら、近代化の波にもまれ、幾度となく姿を変えてきました。京都駅ビルの物語は、古き良き伝統と新しさが交錯する象徴的な舞台です。

京都駅ビルにおける最大の転機は、1997年、平安遷都1200年を記念して現在の京都駅ビルが完成した瞬間に訪れます。それは、京都という街の心を打つ衝撃でした。かつての木造駅舎や、昭和のモダニズムとはまったく異なる、その超現代的な外観は、まるで時間の旅をして未来にたどり着いたかのようでした。

京都駅ビルは、過去と未来、伝統と革新をつなぐ架け橋として、今もなお進化を続けています。その姿は、時に違和感を感じさせるかもしれませんが、それこそが京都という街の本質—絶えず変わり続け、しかしその中で揺るがぬ「京都らしさ」を保つ—を象徴しています。このビルには、京都の歴史と未来、そして訪れるすべての人々の人生が、静かに交差する場所であるというドラマが、秘められているのです。

The history of the Kyoto Station Building is full of drama, as if it were a condensation of the passage of time of the ancient capital of Kyoto itself. Once the cultural heart of Japan, it has been transformed time and again by the waves of modernisation. The story of the Kyoto Station Building is a symbolic setting where old traditions and newness intersect.

The biggest turning point in the Kyoto Station Building came in 1997, when the current Kyoto Station Building was completed to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heian. It was a shock that struck a chord with the city of Kyoto. Its ultra-modern appearance, so different from the wooden station buildings of the past and the modernism of the Showa period, was as if it had travelled through time and arrived in the future.

The Kyoto Station Building continues to evolve as a bridge between the past and the future, tradition and innovation. The building’s appearance may at times seem incongruous, but it symbolises the essence of Kyoto as a city – constantly changing, yet maintaining an unwavering ‘Kyoto-ness’ within it. This building contains the drama of a place where Kyoto’s history and future, and the lives of all its visitors, quietly intersect.

photo equipment : K-1 Mark Ⅱ + smc PENTAX-F ZOOM 28-80mm f3.5-4.5  
カスタムイメージ Gold:光のあるシーンで、黄金に彩るカスタムイメージ。シャドー部が青味を帯び、ハイライト部に向かって黄色味を帯びていく色味となる。(メーカーページ抜粋)

Motoyasu Matsutani, Kyoto-based Photographer livening up the Osaka-Kansai Expo

As the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 approaches, neighboring Kyoto is buzzing with anticipation, preparing to leverage its rich cultural heritage and timeless beauty in support of this momentous event. The city eagerly awaits the economic benefits that will ripple through various industries, recognizing its pivotal role in the Expo's success.
As a photographer, I am dedicated to capturing Kyoto's vibrant spirit and unique charm during this historic period. Through my lens, I aim to document not just the city's scenic beauty, but also its dynamic energy as it engages with the global spotlight of the Expo, contributing to both its immediate impact and enduring legacy.
Kyoto continues to evolve as a premier destination, with endless possibilities in tourism development, luxury market expansion, and innovative branding strategies.

Motoyasu Matsutani, Photographer

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